Christie Front Drive - both
LP/CDs [Caulfield Records] This is where the "midwest
emo" thing started happening, before anyone knew that
rockish, mellow, twinkly emo-influenced indie rock would take
over everything. I remember a record review in the Ebullition
zine calling Christie Front Drive music that hardcore kids would
put on to make love. It was a nice change of pace for us.
Nowadays, you have to search to know that there was ever anything
else.

Boy's Life - Departures and
Landfalls LP/CD [Crank! Records] This record really sums up the
Midwest emo thing for me... mellow tunes drifting in and out,
train whistles from miles away, lots of building up and easing
back. Never harsh, but still with lots of intensity at the
climax. God, I sound like a beer ad or something.

Boy's Life/Christie Front
Drive split 10"/CD [Crank! Records]. Another one of those
desert island records, captured both bands at their height with
no filler. Thankfully re-released on CD after many years out of
print.

The Promise Ring - 30 Degrees
Everywhere LP/CD [Jade Tree Records]. Lo-fi and out of tune in
the cutest devil-may-care way, full of warped pop anthems in the
sweetest possible emo-influenced way. These guys all started out
in hardcore bands I liked, and when this came out I thought this
signified the end and ultimate selling-out of hardcore. Their
later records were hi-fi and in tune, and that totally spoiled
their uniqueness and made them a lame pop band. Get this and the
"Horse Latitude" EP collection, avoid everything else.

Evergreen - 12" (the one
from SoCal, not Louisville). Very rare. Churning, dynamic songs
with the sweetest whispered vocals. Their 7"s are also worth
tracking down.

Sunny Day Real Estate -
"Diary" and the pink album LP/CDs [Sub-Pop]. Well, what
to say? For a lot of people this is the end-all and be-all of
emo. It sounded like Smashing Pumpkins alterna-rock to my
hardcore purist ears when it came out, with its slick expensive
production and mega-compressed sound. Now I hear it as a
fascinating mix of post-hardcore guitars with emo-inflected
vocals and superbly busy drumming, although Jeremy Enigk's
lyrical conceit almost spoils the whole thing. Avoid the third
and later records, as they slipped into complete alterna-rock.
Still, "Diary" is a great record for rescuing people
from commercial rock.

Elliott - U.S. Songs LP/CD
[Revelation]. One of the better Sunny Day Real Estate clones
(there are millions).

Mineral - "The Power of
Failing" LP/CD [Crank!] Another SDRE clone, but one of the
more energetic and captivating ones. The rough production on this
record grinds on my ears a bit. The second record is very nice to
listen to, but lost the energy that made them so cool.

"Don't Forget To
Breathe" compilation LP/CD [Crank!] Great sampler of this
style, not many duds unlike practically every other comp in
history.

I suppose I should put in an
honorable mention for the Get Up Kids. I never liked them, and
thought they were completely unoriginal, but their stuff seems to
have staying power and a popularity that perplexes me. Certainly
they put on a great live show.